Tourist map of Pulau Ubin. Click on the map below to enlarge.
Here is Pulau Ubin on Googlemaps.
How to get there by bus
Bus numbers 2, 29, 59, 109 will take you there. Stop at the terminus. Head towards Changi Point Ferry Terminal (click for interactive map) northeast on Lorong Bekukong about 100 meters away.
How to get there by MRT
You can alight at Tanah Merah Station and take Bus No. 2 to Changi Village. The distance by bus is 10.8km or 26 bus stops away.
Getting there by Taxi/Car
Ask for Changi Village, turn right into Lorong Bekukong next to the Bus Terminus. The carpark in front of Changi point jetty is often full so familiarize yourself with carparks nearby. Driving directions from Loyang Ave.
Make sure you mention the correct ferry terminal by repeating “Changi Village, Changi Point Ferry Terminal” as there are 3 ferry terminals nearby including Changi Ferry Terminal (3.9km away), Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (12 km ), SAF Ferry Terminal (2.1 km). None of the other terminals go to Pulau Ubin
Ferry to Pulau Ubin island.
Look for the sign “Pulau Ubin”, the other departure gate is for Pengerang, Johore Malaysia. You will need passports and go through immigration and other CIQ formalities for entry into Malaysia.
There is no need to carry a passport to Ubin if you have other forms of identification like NRIC. The x-ray security is for contraband like drugs, guns, offensive weapons and illegal poaching. You may bring your own beer or liquor to Pulau Ubin.
Take the bumboat ferry, the boat trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes covering a distance of about 2.4km. It costs one way $2.50 per passenger and $2.00 per bicycle. No tickets are issued. On-board, your boatman will collect the fares and change will be given. Same fares apply for your return journey and collected by the next boatman so there is no return tickets like airfares purchase. Free ride for babies in arms. The boat departs when there are 12 passengers or when the boat get chartered for $30 when there are not enough passengers. Restrictions apply for pet dogs.
The first ferry usually leave at 7-8 am, its usually filled with passengers going to work in Ubin such as contractors or shop owners. No problems if you plan to go earlier as some boatmen, especially older ones, prefer to sleep in their boats. They are usually at the jetty from 2am onwards.
There is no last ferry service. The boatmen stop ferrying when the crowds thin down. On weekends, the crowds thin out from 4pm onwards going to Ubin and from 7.30pm returning from Ubin so expect to pay more by sharing and chartering if you are impatient. You may be stranded in Ubin if the boatmen has gone home so don’t hang around too late.
If there are no ushers on duty, form an orderly queue and stay in a group instead of wandering around and missing your place in the queue. Tell the boatman the number of people in your group so he can quickly count whether he has enough passengers to leave. Take note you are traveling back in time when Singapore is very much a rural place, so don’t expect the boatman to be in smart uniform, wearing regulation caps and white gloves and ignore him when approached. He is just trying to count if there are enough passengers. Or write furious letters to the press because the boat and Pulau Ubin is too rustic for your tastes. Sentosa is better choice for that.
Update Apr 16, 2010: Visitors’ level seems to have dropped. Its harder to get a boat to Ubin if you are planning to go there for fishing or camping at night. We played it safe by leaving for Ubin no later than 8pm when the boatmen are still around at Changi Point Jetty and sharing the full costs of $30.00 for the boat ride.
We would also call ahead and inform the van drivers to expect our arrival, saving us the long trudge to the interior in the dark. You can call Mr. Moh at +65-9731-7629/ +659084-8827 or Tien Song at +65-93468017.
Taking a taxi home from Changi Point.
The best place to hail a cab is probably at the Changi Point Ferry terminal itself.
You can also book a cab via sms by sending “book 499172 #changi point ferry terminal” to 71222.
Other info
Maps of Ubin. Brochures of Pulau Ubin with maps are no longer given out. They ended as rubbish all over the island. Instead, informative signposts and wall maps are found at all junctions. The bicycle rental shops will provide photocopies if they are needed for route planning purposes. More links on detailed maps.
Committing maps to memory
Chek Jawa
Tourist map of Chek Jawa
Map of Chek Jawa (GoogleEarth overlay)
360° panorama virtual view of entrance to Chek Jawa
Other information
For info on hotel stay and restaurants at Pulau Ubin and surrounding Changi area.
Bumboat ride video link 1, video link 2
